Warren B. French
American politician (1923–2021)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Warren Ballinger French Jr. (April 14, 1923 – November 4, 2021) was an American businessman and politician from Virginia. He served as Chair of the Virginia Republican Party from 1970 to 1972.
Warren B. French | |
|---|---|
| Chair of the Virginia Republican Party | |
| In office January 16, 1970 – June 3, 1972 | |
| Preceded by | Samuel E. Carpenter |
| Succeeded by | Richard D. Obenshain |
| Personal details | |
| Born | April 14, 1923 Woodstock, Virginia, U.S. |
| Died | November 4, 2021 (aged 98) Edinburg, Virginia, U.S. |
| Party | Republican |
| Spouse |
Patricia Hamill Teale
(m. 1949) |
| Children | 4 |
| Alma mater | Massanutten Military Academy University of Virginia |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service |  United States Navy |
| Battles/wars | |
Early life
French was born on April 14, 1923, in Woodstock, Virginia, the first of ten children of Warren French Sr. and Lena Belle Sheetz.[1] He attended Woodstock High School, Massanutten Military Academy, and the University of Virginia. In September 1941, he entered the V-12 Navy College Training Program, and later served in the United States Navy during World War II in the Pacific Theater.[1] He was discharged from service in 1946, and returned to the University of Virginia where he received his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering in 1947.[1] In 1954, he started working for the Farmers Mutual Telephone System in Shenandoah County.[2]
Political career
French served as the Seventh District Republican Party Chairman, delegate to the 1968 Republican National Convention, and Chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia from 1970 to 1972.[1] He was elected chair on January 16, 1970, replacing Samuel E. Carpenter, who resigned.[3] In 1972, he received the endorsement of Governor Linwood Holton for reelection as chair, but lost to the more conservative challenger, Richard D. Obenshain.[4] French lost in a lopsided vote, 769 votes for Obenshain compared to just 288 votes for French.
Personal life
He married his wife Patricia Hamill Teale, in Silver Spring, Maryland, on September 17, 1949.[1] They had four children.[1] He died on November 4, 2021, aged 98 of natural causes.[2]